Dunn Memorial Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Dunn Memorial Bridge, officially known as the Private Parker F. Dunn Memorial Bridge, carries US 9 and US 20
across the Hudson River
between Albany, New York
and Rensselaer, New York
. Completed in 1967 to replace an earlier span bearing the same name, the highway bridge has a steel girder
design. It is named for Parker F. Dunn
, an Albany native who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
for his service in World War I
and is the southernmost toll-free road crossing of the Hudson.
While traveling eastbound on the Dunn Memorial Bridge towards the City of Rensselaer, there is a noticeable stub where the road ends and traffic is "forced off" the bridge onto offramps for US Routes 9 and 20. The road was originally supposed to continue on as part of the cancelled South Mall Expressway to Interstate 90
at present day Exit 8.
Rensselaer's Riverfront Park is located under the eastern end of the bridge. Peregrine falcon
s have been observed nesting under the roadway since 1998, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
set up a webcam
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7429.html to monitor them.
On July 27, 2005, the bridge was temporarily closed when a ramp leading to the Empire State Plaza
split vertically, causing the roadbed to drop more than a foot. A section of the ramp, which at 89 feet (27.1 m) tall is the uppermost one connecting to the bridge, had slipped and come to rest on a concrete supporting pier. The Department of Transportation
was alerted to the situation by a call from a commuter who had driven over the gap. Two steel towers were installed to support the ramp and it was later repaired. http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2005/07/25/daily41.html http://www.wnyt.com/x4483.xml?ag=x156&sb=x183
U.S. Route 20 in New York
U.S. Route 20 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Newport, Oregon, to Boston, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of New York, US 20 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line in the Berkshire Mountains. US 20 is the longest...
across the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
between Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and Rensselaer, New York
Rensselaer, New York
Rensselaer is a city in Rensselaer County, New York, United States, and is located on the Hudson River directly opposite Albany. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,392; in 1920, it was 10,832. The name is from Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original landowner of the region in New...
. Completed in 1967 to replace an earlier span bearing the same name, the highway bridge has a steel girder
Girder bridge
A girder bridge, in general, is a bridge built of girders placed on bridge abutments and foundation piers. In turn, a bridge deck is built on top of the girders in order to carry traffic. There are several different subtypes of girder bridges:...
design. It is named for Parker F. Dunn
Parker F. Dunn
Parker F. Dunn was an American soldier serving in the United States Army during World War I who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.-Biography:...
, an Albany native who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and is the southernmost toll-free road crossing of the Hudson.
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
at present day Exit 8.
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
s have been observed nesting under the roadway since 1998, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for the conservation, improvement, and protection of natural resources within the U.S. state of New York. It was founded in 1970, replacing the previous Conservation Department...
set up a webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7429.html to monitor them.
On July 27, 2005, the bridge was temporarily closed when a ramp leading to the Empire State Plaza
Empire State Plaza
The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza is a complex of several state government buildings in downtown Albany, New York....
split vertically, causing the roadbed to drop more than a foot. A section of the ramp, which at 89 feet (27.1 m) tall is the uppermost one connecting to the bridge, had slipped and come to rest on a concrete supporting pier. The Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
was alerted to the situation by a call from a commuter who had driven over the gap. Two steel towers were installed to support the ramp and it was later repaired. http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2005/07/25/daily41.html http://www.wnyt.com/x4483.xml?ag=x156&sb=x183
External links
- Dunn Memorial Bridge at Capital Highways
- Dunn Memorial Bridge at Everything2Everything2Everything2, Everything2, or E2 for short is a collaborative Web-based community consisting of a database of interlinked user-submitted written material. E2 is moderated for quality, but has no formal policy on subject matter...
- "Damage shuts down Dunn Memorial Bridge" at WNYT
- Peregrine Falcons in Albany
- YouTube video of driving over the bridge
- Parker F. Dunn Medal of Honor Citation